GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Clay County Shrine Club celebrated its 61st birthday as a chartered organization on Oct. 14.

The Morocco Shrine Center established and chartered the Clay County Shrine Club in 1962. Approximately 110 Shriners, spouses and family members and The Clay County Community Jazz band were treated to a homemade Italian dinner menu last week featuring baked chicken parmesan, lasagna, spaghetti, homestyle pasta dishes, salads and desserts.

The 20-piece Clay County Community Jazz Band, a subgroup of the 70-plus member Clay County Community Band featured music from the 1920s through the 1950s, as well as classics such as “Rolling on the River,” “Footloose,” Rock-In Robin” and “Old Time Rock and Roll.”

In addition to celebrating the 61st anniversary, four new Shriner candidates were sworn in as the newest members. It was truly a night to celebrate being a Shriner.

The club, located at 2471 Russell Rd, has been home to Clay County Shriners since 1975. Construction of their facility began with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 5, 1975, the building was completed later the same year. The groundbreaking was officiated by the 1975 Clay County Shrine Club President Jonathan M. Wainwright V and the 1975 Morocco Shrine Potentate John Ek. Club President Jonathan M. Wainwright V was the son of retired four-star General Jonathan M. Wainwright IV. General Wainwright and his son, Clay County Shrine Club President Jonathan Wainwright V, were both Freemasons and Shriners.

Shriners have been around for 150 years. Shriners International established Shriners Children’s as its official philanthropy in 1922 and continues to support it today. Shriners Children commonly known as Shriners Hospitals for Children treat both pediatric and burns. With an annual budget exceeding $1 billion it is now one of the largest pediatric sub-specialty healthcare systems in the world.

Shriners Hospitals for Children provides specialty pediatric care to children regardless of their families’ ability to pay or insurance status. Since opening the first Shriners Children’s location, the healthcare system has improved the lives of more than 1.4 million children. For additional information or to refer a child you can reach out to lovetotherescue.org or by calling (800) 237-7256. If you would like to contact the Clay County Shrine Club please call (833) 374-7463. Feel free to leave us a message if we miss your call. You can also reach out to the Morocco Shrine Center located at 560 Wells Road, by calling (904) 909-2681 or emailing info@moroccoshrine.org.